From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2009-01-06 16:41:11 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: 2 problems in young ferret
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
> I'm surprised though that nothing showed up in the ultra sound.
> Wouldn't crystals show up??
I don't know. When they are bad they do show up on x-ray,
but by then they can be very serious and require surgery.
>
> Could high calcium levels cause muscle problems in the hindend? I came
> across this message SG10833 and it got me wondering
Again, I don't know, but a question:
Is this ferret getting supplements with a lot of Vitamin D in
them. If my memory is serving me hypercalcemia can
happen in members of Carnivora who get too much D for
optimal health. Just as we humans have to be careful to not
overdo members of Carnivora may need to be careful to not
overdo D.
Let's see, I mention D3 in this, and I know that I have in the
past found articles on this problem as well as hearing about
it being a possible consideration from Dr. Tom Willard whose
doctorate is in veterinary nutrition. Let me see if I can find
at least one reference
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL471
Oh, my! that effect is also present in animals who are
suffering kidney problems from too many raisins
(but I don't know if that is blood, urine, or both):
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG1510
This is new:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18854204
BEGIN QUOTED ABSTRACT
Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2008 Dec;52(3):332-41.
Epub 2008 Sep 26. Links
Inter-species differences in sensitivity to the calcemic
activity of the novel 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 analog BXL746.
Baroni E, Camisa B, D'Ambrosio D.
BioXell SpA, Department of Preclinical Development,
Via Olgettina, 58, Milano 20132, Italy.
The activities of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and its
synthetic analogs have been extensively studied in
humans as well as in preclinical species, and recent
data show potential therapeutic utility in cancer treatment.
However, their chronic administration leads to changes in
blood mineral ion concentrations, and at high doses can
result in symptomatic hypercalcemia limiting therapeutic
applicability. To overcome this issue, a therapeutic approach
based on administration of intermittent, high doses of
1,25(OH)2D3 has been explored in prostate cancer patients.
Despite these and other investigations, limited information
is available on the effects of acute systemic administration
of high doses of 1,25(OH)2D3 or its analogs. Here, we report
a comparative analysis of the pro-calcemic effects of the
novel 1,25(OH)2D3 analog BXL746 following acute or chronic
administration in animals and humans. While chronic administration
of BXL746 to rats, dogs and humans leads to similar modulation
of calcemia in these species, single dose administration reveals
>1000-fold higher sensitivity of dog compared to rat and human
in induction of hypercalcemia and consequent systemic toxicity.
Our data indicate that the rat is a more relevant species than the
dog for the prediction of human results when acute administration
of a 1,25(OH)2D3 analog is envisaged.
PMID: 18854204
END QUOTED ABSTRACT
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18402878
BEGIN QUOTED ABSTRACT
Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2008 May;38(3):513-33, x. Links
Therapeutic approach to electrolyte emergencies.
Schaer M.
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College
of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box
100126, Gainesville, FL 32610-0126, USA.
Hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, hyponatremia, hypernatremia,
hypocalcemia, and hypercalcemia are commonly seen in
emergency medicine. Severe abnormalities in any of these
electrolytes can cause potentially life-threatening consequences
to the patient. It is essential that the clinician understand and
correct (if possible) the underlying cause of each disorder and
recognize the importance of the rates of correction, especially
with serum sodium disorders. The recommended doses in this
article might have to be adjusted to the individual patient, and
these modifications must be adjusted again to the
pathophysiology of the primary underlying disorder.
PMID: 18402878
END QUOTE
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18402876
BEGIN QUOTED ABSTRACT
Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2008 May;38(3):497-502, ix. Links
Calcium: total or ionized?
Schenck PA, Chew DJ.
Endocrine Diagnostic Section, Diagnostic Center for
Population and Animal Health, Department of Pathobiology
and Diagnostic Investigation, Michigan State University,
4125 Beaumont Road, Lansing, MI 48910, USA.
Measurement of serum total calcium (tCa) has been relied
on for assessment of calcium status, despite the fact that
it is the ionized calcium (iCa) fraction that has biologic activity.
Serum tCa does not accurately predict iCa status in many
clinical conditions. For accurate assessment of iCa status,
iCa should be directly measured. Anaerobic measurement
of serum iCa under controlled conditions provides the most
reliable assessment of calcium status; aerobic measurement
of iCa with species-specific pH correction is highly correlated
with anaerobic measurements.
PMID: 18402876
END QUOTED ABSTRACT
Remember that mustelids are the most recent branch from
the canid portion of Carnivora.
Because there are so very many interesting abstracts on
this topic I suggest going to Pub Med and searching
Here are a few more of the many just to illustrate
that there can be many possible causes:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18366554
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18045336
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18041707
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18020999
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17402620
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17339285
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